Romanesque, Not Gothic!
Durham Cathedral (Door Knocker)
Durham Cathedral in Northern England is the burial place of the Venerable Bede, the father of English scholarship. Beginning with the giant knocker on the main door (above), follow a keyed floorplan of the cathedral and go on a virtual tour.
Durham is deliberately misplaced in this gallery of Gothic architecture. Durham is almost completely Romanesque and represents the period just before the Gothic. Hence the arches are rounded rather than pointed and the entire cathedral seems incredibly heavy and earthbound.
Durham Cathedral has achieved fame recently as the chief setting for the film Elizabeth. The fact the Queen Elizabeth I had nothing whatever to do with Durham seems not to have disturbed holliwood. I believe they were going for "atmospherics."
Here are some images from the virtual tour, which I highly recommend. Durham is NOT a day trip from London. It is in the extreme North, just below Scotland. But if you are on your way to Edinburgh, Durham is an excellent one-day diversion.
Nave: Note the Piers with Geometric Designs!
Roof
Crossing